The January transfer market seems to have one very large web been woven at the moment involving Chelsea, Arsenal, AC Milan, Manchester United, Sporting Lisbon, Roma and Juventus, and basically, the producer trophic level is occupied by just one mammalian species – Sami Khedira.

The Real Madrid midfielder has lost his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s regular XI and with Madrid looking to sell him this January to avoid losing him on a free, several clubs have indicated interest in signing him up, Chelsea and Arsenal the main suitors from England. The merry-go-round surrounding the players has widened to all shores of Europe’s top leagues as Italian duo of Juventus and AC Milan were thought to be interested in him.

The Juve interest would come in form of an exchange deal involving Arturo Vidal going the other way to the Bernabeu. Milan, though, have opted against going for Khedira, rather choosing now to set their sights on another in-demand hotshot William Carvalho. The 22-year old has been the subject of much admiration from the Arsene Wenger and Louis van Gaal, both clubs being in particular need of a true defensive midfielder. United have grown weary in their world-wide search for a solid body between attack and defense, becoming increasingly frustrated in their attempts to lure Kevin Strootman from Roma and Vidal from Juventus.

It leaves Arsenal and Chelsea with the leeway to gain from United’s inability to woo players to Old Trafford, by each making his case to Khedira and his agents over the potential for success if he moves to London. Mourinho will tempt Madrid to sell to him by offering relegated goalkeeper, Petr Cech, as part of the deal on a six-month loan agreement.

Both London clubs seem to be at continuous loggerheads with each other, with Mourinho being determined to foil every transfer plan of Wenger’s. The Portuguese seems keen to extend his unbeaten run against Wenger unto the negotiation tables, but Wenger isn’t actually backing down so easily, with an eye on one of Chelsea’s long-term target, Talisca.

The 20-year old Benfica striker has made an excellent start to life in Portugal this term and Wenger has had eyes following his development at the Estadio da Luz. He is now reportedly planning to bankroll a £17m bid for the youngster in January by auctioning one of his out-of-favour possessions in Lukas Podolski.

While that will count for some victory on Wenger’s part, it will be the Khedira battle which will really make a statement of his supremacy as well as the potential of the Arsenal team to make a real push for the title this season. We are in evident need of a strong holding midfielder this season and though there are good hopes that those Alonso Videos will pay off for Wilshere and Arsenal in the future, we need one who has established himself in the world already alongside the revered Spanish midfield maestro.

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